Methods and systems for linking an electronic address to a physical address of a customer

• US 20020059381A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Cook, Jon L., Orbke, Wayne H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 : by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

An electronic account links an electronic address to a physical address of a customer. Services provided to the customer using the electronic account can be delivered to the physical address or the electronic address of the customer. If the customer requests to receive only physical mail, the link between the addresses can be used to deliver any electronic mail to the physical address of the customer.

Claims

1. A method for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

sending a query from an address matching engine to an address matching directory database;

determining, by the address matching directory database, the standardized physical address of the user based on the query;

sending the standardized physical address from the address matching directory database to the address matching engine; and

linking the standardized physical address to the electronic account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the query includes address information provided by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the address matching directory database is created from a United States Postal Service master address database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the standardized physical address includes a delivery point identification key.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the delivery point identification key corresponds to an entry in a United States Postal Service master address database.

6. A method for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a delivery point identification key, the delivery point identification key corresponding to a physical address of the user;

storing the delivery point identification key in the electronic account;

sending the delivery point identification key to an address database; and

receiving the standardized physical address corresponding to the delivery point identification key from the address database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service master address database.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the obtaining step further comprises the substep of:

obtaining the delivery point identification key from an address matching engine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the address matching engine is a United States Postal Service address matching engine.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

retrieving updated standardized physical address information from the address database using the delivery point identification key.

11. A method for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

creating a static address database from a master address database, the static address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

obtaining an address of the user from the electronic account;

sending the address of the user to the static address database; and

receiving a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the static address database.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the master address database is a United States Postal Service master address database.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the static address database is a United States Postal Service static monolithic address database.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the address database contains a plurality of standardized addresses corresponding to a plurality of users, each standardized address conforming to a standard format.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the standard format includes a street number, street name, city, state, and ZIP code.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service master address database.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

retrieving updated standardized physical address information from the address database using the delivery point identification key.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the standardized physical address includes a street number, street name, city, state, and ZIP code.

14. A method for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

accessing an address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

obtaining an address of the user from the electronic account;

sending the address of the user to the address database; and

receiving a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

17. A method for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an address of the user from the electronic account;

sending the address of the user to an address database, wherein the address database contains the standardized physical address of the user; and

receiving a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

21. A method for delivering a physical message in an electronic format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and a physical address, comprising the steps of:

receiving the physical message directed to the physical address for each of the users;

determining an electronic address for each of the users from the physical address of each user; and

sending the physical message in an electronic format to the electronic address for each of the users.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

sending the physical message to the physical address for each of the users.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the determining step further comprises the substeps of:

generating a key corresponding to the user using the electronic address, the key allowing access to an address database; and

matching the physical address from the address database using the key in order to determine the electronic address.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronic address is a fax number.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronic address is an e-mail addresses.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronic address is a telephone number.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the sending step further comprises the substep of:

sending the physical message in an electronic format via an e-mailbox repository.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the sending step further comprises the substep of:

sending the physical message in an electronic format via an e-mail routing system.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving step further comprises the substep of:

receiving a physical address file containing the physical address of each of the users.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving step further comprises the substep of:

receiving a content file containing the physical message.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving step further comprises the substeps of:

receiving a physical address file containing the physical address of each of the users; and

receiving a content file containing the physical message.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

creating an e-mail mailing list containing the electronic address for each of the users.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

verifying the physical address of each user in an address matching system.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

sending the electronic message to the electronic address for each of the users.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the electronic address is a fax number.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the electronic address is an e-mail addresses.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the electronic address is a telephone number.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving step further comprises the substep of:

receiving an electronic address file containing the electronic address of each of the users.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving step further comprises the substep of:

receiving a content file containing the electronic message.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the receiving step further comprises the substeps of:

receiving an electronic address file containing the electronic address of each of the users; and

receiving a content file containing the electronic message.

42. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

creating an e-mail mailing list containing the electronic address for each of the users.

43. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

verifying the physical address of each user in an address matching system.

34. A method for delivering an electronic message in a physical format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and an electronic address, comprising the steps of:

receiving the electronic message directed to the electronic address for each of the users;

determining a physical address for each of the users from the electronic address of each user; and

sending the electronic message in a physical format to the physical address for each of the users.

44. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

a query sending component configured to send a query from an address matching engine to an address matching directory database;

a determining component configured to determine by the address matching directory database, the standardized physical address of the user based on the query;

an address sending component configured to send the standardized physical address from the address matching directory database to the address matching engine; and

a linking component configured to link the standardized physical address to the electronic account.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the query includes address information provided by the user.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the address matching directory database is created from a United States Postal Service master address database.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the standardized physical address includes a delivery point identification key.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the delivery point identification key corresponds to an entry in a United States Postal Service master address database.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service master address database.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the key obtaining component further comprises:

an engine key obtaining component configured to obtain the delivery point identification key from an address matching engine.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the address matching engine is a United States Postal Service address matching engine.

53. The system of claim 49, further comprising:

a retrieving component configured to retrieve updated standardized physical address information from the address database using the delivery point identification key.

49. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

a key obtaining component configured to obtain a delivery point identification key, the delivery point identification key corresponding to a physical address of the user;

a storing component configured to store the delivery point identification key in the electronic account;

a sending component configured to send the delivery point identification key to an address database; and

a receiving component configured to receive the standardized physical address corresponding to the delivery point identification key from the address database.

54. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

a creating component configured to create a static address database from a master address database, the static address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

an obtaining component configured to obtain an address of the user from the electronic account;

a sending component configured to send the address of the user to the static address database; and

a receiving component configured to receive a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the static address database.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the master address database is a United States Postal Service master address database.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the static address database is a United States Postal Service static monolithic address database.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the address database contains a plurality of standardized addresses corresponding to a plurality of users, each standardized address conforming to a standard format.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the standard format includes a street number, street name, city, state, and ZIP code.

57. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

an accessing component configured to access an address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

an obtaining component configured to obtain an address of the user from the electronic account;

a sending component configured to send the address of the user to the address database; and

a receiving component configured to receive a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

60. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

an obtaining component configured to obtain an address of the user from the electronic account;

a sending component configured to send the address of the user to an address database, wherein the address database contains the standardized physical address of the user; and

a receiving component configured to receive a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service master address database.

62. The system of claim 60, further comprising:

a retrieving component configured to retrieve updated standardized physical address information from the address database using the delivery point identification key.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the standardized physical address includes a street number, street name, city, state, and ZIP code.

64. A system for delivering a physical message in an electronic format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and a physical address, comprising:

a physical message receiving component configured to receive the physical message directed to the physical address for each of the users;

a determining component configured to determine an electronic address for each of the users from the physical address of each user; and

an electronic sending component configured to send the physical message in an electronic format to the electronic address for each of the users.

65. The system of claim 64, further comprising:

a physical sending component configured to send the physical message to the physical address for each of the users.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein the determining component further comprises:

a generating component configured to generate a key corresponding to the user using the electronic address, the key allowing access to an address database; and

a matching component configured to match the physical address from the address database using the key in order to determine the electronic address.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the electronic address is a fax number.

68. The system of claim 64, wherein the electronic address is an e-mail addresses.

69. The system of claim 64, wherein the electronic address is a telephone number.

70. The system of claim 64, wherein the sending component further comprises:

a repository sending component configured to send the physical message in an electronic format via an e-mailbox repository.

71. The system of claim 64, wherein the sending component further comprises:

a routing system sending component configured to send the physical message in an electronic format via an e-mail routing system.

72. The system of claim 64, wherein the receiving component further comprises:

an address file receiving component configured to receive a physical address file containing the physical address of each of the users.

73. The system of claim 64, wherein the receiving component further comprises:

a content file receiving component configured to receive a content file containing the physical message.

74. The system of claim 64, wherein the receiving component further comprises:

a physical address receiving component configured to receive a physical address file containing the physical address of each of the users; and

a content file receiving component configured to receive a content file containing the physical message.

75. The system of claim 64, further comprising:

a creating component configured to create an e-mail mailing list containing the electronic address for each of the users.

76. The system of claim 64, further comprising:

a verifying component configured to verify the physical address of each user in an address matching system.

77. A system for delivering an electronic message in a physical format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and an electronic address, comprising:

a message receiving component configured to receive the electronic message directed to the electronic address for each of the users;

a determining component configured to determine a physical address for each of the users from the electronic address of each user; and

a physical address sending component configured to send the electronic message in a physical format to the physical address for each of the users.

78. The system of claim 77, further comprising:

an electronic address sending component configured to send the electronic message to the electronic address for each of the users.

79. The system of claim 77, wherein the electronic address is a fax number.

80. The system of claim 77, wherein the electronic address is an e-mail addresses.

81. The system of claim 77, wherein the electronic address is a telephone number.

82. The system of claim 77, wherein the receiving component further comprises:

an address file receiving component configured to receive an electronic address file containing the electronic address of each of the users.

83. The system of claim 77, wherein the receiving component further comprises:

a content file receiving component configured to receive a content file containing the electronic message.

84. The system of claim 77, wherein the receiving component further comprises:

an address file receiving component configured to receive an electronic address file containing the electronic address of each of the users; and

a content file receiving component configured to receive a content file containing the electronic message.

85. The system of claim 77, further comprising:

a creating component configured to create an e-mail mailing list containing the electronic address for each of the users.

86. The system of claim 77, further comprising:

a verifying component configured to verify the physical address of each user in an address matching system.

87. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a sending module configured to send a query from an address matching engine to an address matching directory database;

a determining module configured to determine, by the address matching directory database, the standardized physical address of the user based on the query;

a sending module configured to send the standardized physical address from the address matching directory database to the address matching engine; and

a linking module configured to link the standardized physical address to the electronic account.

88. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

an obtaining module configured to obtain a delivery point identification key, the delivery point identification key corresponding to a physical address of the user;

a storing module configured to store the delivery point identification key in the electronic account;

a sending module configured to send the delivery point identification key to an address database; and

a receiving module configured to receive the standardized physical address corresponding to the delivery point identification key from the address database.

89. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

a creating module configured to create a static address database from a master address database, the static address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

an obtaining module configured to obtain an address of the user from the electronic account;

a sending module configured to send the address of the user to the static address database; and

a receiving module configured to receive a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the static address database.

90. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein method for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

an accessing module configured to access an address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

an obtaining module configured to obtain an address of the user from the electronic account;

a sending module configured to send the address of the user to the address database; and

a receiving module configured to receive a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

91. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, the computer readable code comprising:

an obtaining module configured to obtain an address of the user from the electronic account;

a sending module configured to send the address of the user to an address database, wherein the address database contains the standardized physical address of the user; and

a receiving module configured to receive a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

92. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering a physical message in an electronic format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and a physical address, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive the physical message directed to the physical address for each of the users;

a determining module configured to determine an electronic address for each of the users from the physical address of each user; and

a sending module configured to send the physical message in an electronic format to the electronic address for each of the users.

93. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for delivering an electronic message in a physical format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and an electronic address, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive the electronic message directed to the electronic address for each of the users;

a determining module configured to determine a physical address for each of the users from the electronic address of each user; and

a sending module configured to send the electronic message in a physical format to the physical address for each of the users.

94. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

means for sending a query from an address matching engine to an address matching directory database;

means for determining, by the address matching directory database, the standardized physical address of the user based on the query;

means for sending the standardized physical address from the address matching directory database to the address matching engine; and

means for linking the standardized physical address to the electronic account.

95. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

means for obtaining a delivery point identification key, the delivery point identification key corresponding to a physical address of the user;

means for storing the delivery point identification key in the electronic account;

means for sending the delivery point identification key to an address database; and

means for receiving the standardized physical address corresponding to the delivery point identification key from the address database.

96. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

means for creating a static address database from a master address database, the static address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

means for obtaining an address of the user from the electronic account;

means for sending the address of the user to the static address database; and

means for receiving a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the static address database.

97. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

means for accessing an address database containing the standardized physical address of the user, wherein the standardized physical address comprises a predetermined set of data;

means for obtaining an address of the user from the electronic account;

means for sending the address of the user to the address database; and

means for receiving a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

98. A system for determining a standardized physical address of a user with an electronic account, comprising:

means for obtaining an address of the user from the electronic account;

means for sending the address of the user to an address database, wherein the address database contains the standardized physical address of the user; and

means for receiving a delivery point identification key corresponding to the address of the user, wherein the delivery point identification key can be used to obtain the standardized physical address of the user from the address database.

99. A system for delivering a physical message in an electronic format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and a physical address, comprising:

means for receiving the physical message directed to the physical address for each of the users;

means for determining an electronic address for each of the users from the physical address of each user; and

means for sending the physical message in an electronic format to the electronic address for each of the users.

100. A system for delivering an electronic message in a physical format to a plurality of users with an electronic account and an electronic address, comprising:

means for receiving the electronic message directed to the electronic address for each of the users;

means for determining a physical address for each of the users from the electronic address of each user; and

means for sending the electronic message in a physical format to the physical address for each of the users.